Getting Fair Compensation for Nerve Damage After a Car Accident
You were in a car accident, but you were pretty sure it was minor. But now, days later, your fingers are still tingling when you wake up each morning, and your right arm is incredibly sensitive to touch. You may have suffered nerve damage in the crash, and it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
There are several types of nerve damage, and some can cause permanent injury. It’s time to talk to an attorney about your legal options. Call Peake & Fowler at 803-788-4370 to plan your next steps.
How to Know If You Have Nerve Damage
If you’re involved in a crash, it’s important to be aware of any changes in your physical health or pain levels, as changes may indicate a serious injury. Some of the most common symptoms of nerve injury include:
- Limbs falling asleep when pressure is applied to them
- Pain and sensitivity in the affected limb
- Tingling sensation or numbness
- Limited mobility and strength
- Difficulty moving affected limbs
- Dizziness and fainting
- Pain that does not go away with time
A lot depends on which part of the body is affected by the nerve damage, so it’s crucial to be aware of any localized pain, numbness, and tingling.
Types of Nerve Damage
There are three main types of nerve injuries:
- Neuropraxia: This occurs when nerve conduction is disrupted but the axon itself is not damaged. This type of injury generally resolves itself within a matter of weeks or months but may require rest and monitoring.
- Axonotmesis: Axonotmesis is a slightly more serious nerve injury. The axon is physically damaged, but the surrounding connective tissue is not. Healing can only occur when the axon regenerates, which takes a substantial amount of time and may take even longer if there is scar tissue. More serious cases of axonotmesis require surgical intervention, so early identification is crucial.
- Neurotmesis: Neurotmesis happens when the axon and its connective tissue are completely ruptured. This is the most serious type of nerve damage and will not heal on its own. You must seek surgical care early or the damage will be irreparable.
Getting Compensation by Documenting Your Injury
There’s a wide range of outcomes with nerve damage, as you can see from the types of nerve injury listed above. With outcomes ranging from full recovery without intervention to potentially lifelong nerve damage, it’s hard to determine how much compensation your injury is worth.
As you may have guessed, insurance companies will approach this from the angle that some nerve injuries recover fully on their own, so yours is unlikely to be worthy of substantial (or any) compensation.
You will need evidence to back up your claim that your injury has affected your life and warrants compensation. First, make sure you seek medical attention right away after the accident. This shows that the accident caused the injury and helps you get an early diagnosis. Then, go to all scheduled doctors’ appointments and follow their care recommendations.
Whether your injury is permanent, temporary, or still unknown, you must show that you are mitigating the damage by following medical advice. Finally, don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion if necessary. If your doctor’s advice is confusing or contradicts itself, it may be time to talk to a specialist or another physician.
Don’t Forget to Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer
Regardless of the level of nerve damage you’ve sustained, make it a priority to talk to an attorney about your accident claim. Their experience with nerve damage claims and car accidents, in general, can be a huge benefit as you seek full and fair compensation.
Your attorney can also help you avoid the tricks used by insurance companies to limit your compensation. You should seek out a local car accident lawyer as soon as possible after getting your car accident injuries checked out.
Choose Peake & Fowler for Your Personal Injury Claim
The team at Peake & Fowler is ready and willing to support you through your car accident claim. We know that nerve damage can have lifelong ramifications, and you deserve to be compensated accordingly. Set up a consultation now by calling us at 803-788-4370 or sending us a message online.
